Hydraulic hydrant disassembly wrench



Feb. 18, 1958 D. F. THOMAS HYDRAULIC HYDRANT DISASSEMBLY WRENCH Filed April 19, 1954 Q MN 3 Q N... w fi 5 INVENTIOIR" David F Thomas ATTORNEY U it d. S a s Pat n "3C6 2,823,450 HYDRAULIC HYDRANT DISASSEMBLY WRENCH David F. Thomas, West St. Paul, Minn., assignor to Waterous Company, Ramsey County, Minn., a corporation of Minnesota Application April 19, 1954, Serial No. 423,992 9 Claims. (Cl. 29-;240)

This invention relates to an improvement in hydraulic disassembly wrench and deals particularly with a wrench useful in removing hydrant valve seats.

The hydrants which are of the type used in colder climates are usually extended down into the ground at substantial distance. A .hydrant valve is provided v 2,823,450 Patented Feb. 18, 1958 have remained in place for a considerable periodof years.

A further feature of the present invention lies in the compactness of the present structure. The present device is compact in form but yet is capable of accomplishing the same work as a wrench having a handle of considerable length.

at the lower end of the hydrant by means of which the 1 matically illustrated in Figure 2, the hydrant being desigwater from the water main may be directed into the interior of the vertical hydrant. A valve stem normally extends downwardly through the center of the hydrant by means of which the valve may be opened or closed. This valve stem usually extends into a hydrant top or bonnet and engages an operating nut. By rotating the operating nut by means of a suitable Wrench, the valve stem may be moved vertically.

The valve assembly is constructed so that it may be taken apart for repairs without disturbing the hydrant.

The removable portion of the valve assembly is provided with a pair of oppositely .disposed upwardly ex-. tending lugs. By providing a pipe with a jaw at one end notched suitably to accommodate the lugs on the valve assembly, and by sliding this pipe down over the valve stem, the valve assembly may be engaged. for rotation. By rotating this pipe the valve assembly may be loosened and removed. While the valve assemblies may be easily removed when the hydrants are serviced at regular intervals, it is commonplace for the valve assemblies to remain intact for a considerable period of years. Asa result the valve assemblies become affixed in. place so firmly so that considerable torque is required to unthread them. The present device comprises a tool designed to assist in this \valve assembly removal operation.

An object of the present invention resides in the provision of a disassembly' tool which includes a base plate designed for attachment to the hydrantso as to extend in a generally radial direction therefrom. This base plate is designed to fit onto the body of the hydrant after the caper bonnet of the hydrant has been removed. A wrench is provided which engages about the pipe, said pipe encircling the valve stem and secured to the jaw which engages the lugs on the valve assembly. The wrench is provided with a lever which extendsin a generally radial direction. A hydraulic cylinder is pivotally supported at the extremity of the base plate and is' pivotally connected to the wrench lever. By providing suitable hydraulic pressure for this cylinder, the wrench arm I These and other objects andnovel features of the present invention will be more clearly and fully set forth in the following specification and claims.

In the drawings forming a part of the specification:

Figure l is a top plan view of thehydrant assembly and disassembly wrench, showing the relationship of parts therein.

Figure 2 is a side elevational view of the structure shown in Figure l, a portion of the structure being shown in cross section.

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the lower end of the valve assembly and disassembly tool showing in general the arrangement thereof.

In the drawings a portion of a hydrant is diagramnated in general by the letter A. The hydrant is shown as having a vertical sleeve 10 provided at its upper extremity witha peripheral flange 11. This flange includes a series of angularly spaced apertures 12designed to accommodate bolts such as 13 which act to hold the bonnet-or cap of the hydrant in place. This bonnet or cap has been removed from the hydrant as it is disclosed in Figure 2..

The hydrant A also includes a valve stem 14 which extends axially through the sleeve 10 and which projects into the bonnet. By operating the valve stem 14, the valve at the lower end of the hydrant may be opened to permit liquid to flow into the hydrant casing.

While not shown specifically in-the drawings, the valve assembly at the lower end of the hydrant is usually provided with upwardly projecting angularly spaced lugs which may be engaged bya suitable tool for rotating the entire valve assembly so as to disengage this valve assembly for repair or replacement. As the hydrant usually is quite long and extends a considerable distance into the ground,'the valve assembly is usually disengaged by a suitable tool, portions of which are shown in Fig ures 2 and 3 of the drawings and which is indicated in general by the letter B. The tool B includes an elongated tubular sleeve 15 of proper interior'diameter to encircle the valve stem 14, which sleeve 15 is provided with a jaw 16v at its lower extremity. The jaw 16 is provided with angularly spacednotches 17 which correspond-in spacingto the lugs on the valve assembly so that the jaw will engage the'valve assembly lugs. When the lugs are engaged in the notches17,--the s'leeve- 15'maybe rotated to rotate the valve assembly to unthread it from the valve housing. Y

In order to provide a means of readily rotating the sleeve 15, a hydraulic 'disassembly wrench is provided which isindicated in general by the letter C and which forms the subject of the present invention. This wrenfll C includes a base plate 19 having an end portion 20 which is provided with an aperture 21 therethrough' of sufficient size to freely encircle the sleeve 15. Forconveni'ence in mounting the base plate 19' I provide a slot 18 which extends radially through the base plate communicating with the central aperture 21 so that-the tool The portion'20of the baseplate 19 which encircles the sleeve is provided with aplu'rality of angularly spaced apertures indicated by the numeral 22. In view of the-fact thatrhydrant bodies may vary in diameter and in view'of the further fact that the bolt'apertures '12 ofthehydrant body flanges 11 may varyintheir angular spacings, ap'ertures'ZZ are arranged in' concentric rings of apertures, the apertures of'each concentric ring being designed to register with the bolt holes 12' of a hydrant of a particular diameter. 'The base plate 19 extends outwardly from the hydrant in a generally-radial'dircction and the side'edges ofthe base plate are provided with downturned flanges'f23. an'd24'which act to reinforce the arm and make'it more rigid.

The 'sleeve'encircling portion'of thewrench may be variedsomewha'tindesign, the pa'rtieularform'of construction illustrated being found very advantageous for the purpose. .This portion of the Wrench includes a rounded segment which is provided with an' arcuate inner edge26'provided 'with teeth 27. 'This'segment 25 is provided with a projecting tongue 29,'straddled by the bifurcated end of a second curved segment 31. A pivot 32-extends through 'the'overlapping tongue 29 and bifurcated end 30 so as to pivotally connect these parts.

The segment 31 is provided with'an' arcuate inner sur-' face 33 which is'provided with" angularly spaced teeth 34; The arcuation 'of the segments 25' and '31 is equal so that thesetwo segments may engage snugly about the sleeve 15. The twosegments cooperate by'gripping the sleeve duringrotation.

The lever 35 is-pivotally 'attached-at-36 to an endof the segment 31 and is attached intermediate its ends at 37 to the end of the segment 25. The end of the'segment 25 is bifurcated as illustrated at 39 'to accommodate the lever 35 and the segment 31 is alsoprovided with a bifurcated end 40* which accommodates the end of the lever 35. As is clearly shown inFigure '1 ofthe drawings, the pointof connection of the -lever'35'with the segment 31,-related to the point of'connection' of the lever with the segment 25, is such that if'force is exerted upon the free end of the lever 35 tending to rotate this lever in a counter clockwise direction, the two segments are wrapped firmly about the sleeve 15 tending-to rotate the sleeve 15. The movement of the lever 35 in a clockwise direction pivots the segments 25 and31- apart to the extent necessary to connect the free rotation of these segments relative to the sleeve 15. An. angle bracket 41 is secured to the end of the base plate 19by weldingor by other suitable means, the bracket 41 having a vertical flange 42 and a horizontal flange '43 which is parallel to the plane'of the base plate 19.- A'hyclrauliccylinder-44 is pivotally connected between the bracket 41 and the free end of the lever arm 35. The 'cylinder44 is provided with a piston rod 45 which extends into the cylinder 44 and may be either. provided with a piston at its inner end or may in itself serve as a piston. The rod or plunger 45 is slidable within the cylinder 44. I Ahead or coupling 46 is mounted upon the piston rod 45, this coupling being provided with a bifurcated end 47. This bifurcated end 47 straddles the free end of the lever 35 .and a pivot pin 49- extends through the bifurcated end '47and through the lever 35 to pivotally connectthe piston-rod 45 to the lever 35.

Thecylinder 44 is provided with projecting end 50 which extends between the horizontal flange 43 of the angle bracket 41 and the base plate 19.- A pivot pin 51 extendsthrough the flange 43, the cylinder end 50, and the base plate 19 to pivotally anchor the cylinder to the free end. of the base plate 19. A spacer sleeve 52 encircles the pivot 51 beneath the cylinder end 50 soas to'hold the cylinder at the proper elevation.

A smallihydraulic pump 53 is supp'ortedupon the'base plate .19.. This pump 53 may be'of any suitable'type to supply fluid pressure to the cylinder 44. In the particular form illustrated the pump includes a pump body 54 hav ing'apump harrdle 5'5"which is capable" of reciprocating a plate-19.i .Thisspring is optional, and is omitted in Figure 2 for the purposeofcl'arifyingithe remaining structure. In the event the pump 53 is of the single acting type,.the spring 60 may be usedto return the lever 35 to star-ting position; As the piston rod or plunger '45 is forced from the cylinder 44,-the spring 60 is expanded. When the lever 35 has reached the end of its movement in a counter clockwise direction, the fluid pressure from the pump.53 may be released in any suitable Way, as by a valvecontrolling theflow of fluid to'the reservoir. When the'hydraulic fluid is free to'travel in a reverse direction, the spring will draw the lever 35 in a clockwise direction. By controlling the reverse flow, the speed of reverse rotation can' be varied.

The operation of'the'apparatus is believed quite evident from the foregoing description. When the valve-assembly'ofthehydrant is to be'removed, the cap or bonnet of'the hydrant is removed by removing bolts such as bolts 13. Thetool B' is next applied by inserting the tube'15 over the valve stem1'4 and sliding the tool downwardly until" the jaw'16 rests upon the valve assembly. The jaw is". then rotateduntilthe lugs of the valve assembly become engaged in the'notches 17.

The apparatus C is next attached to the top of the hydrant body. The wrench'portion' of the'device is opened up'by :removing'the' pivot 37"which may 'be in the form of a bolt'orpin. The two segments-25am 31 of the wrench are-swung; open and the base plate '19 is moved laterally, the sleeve'15 enteringthe slot 18 until it is'concentric Withthe aperture ZITOf the base plate. Bolts-13 are. then'usedf to secure thebaseplate to the top of'the hydrant body.

The wrench portions are then closed aboutthe sleeve 15 and the pivot 37 reinserted. This section normally takes place when the plunger 45 is fully retracted. The pump 53 is then operated to supply fluid under pressure through the conduit 56 and fitting 57 into the'cylinder 44, moving the plunger outwardly This movement swings the lever 35 in a'counter clockwise direction, the lever acting to wrap the wrench sections tightly about the sleeve 15. Further pivotal movement. ofthe lever 35. rotates the sleeve 15 in a counter clockwise direction, unthreading the valve assembly from its housing.

' the lever is -pulled in theyopposite direction.

After the valve assemblyhas been loosened to some extent the sleeve 15 usually maybe rotated without the hydraulic device. However, if further rotation by the hydraulic wrench is required the fluid may be withdrawn from thecylinder 44 to return the lever 35 to its starting position. During this action the lever 35 loosensthe wrench portions so that they do not rotate the sleeve 15 in unison withthe wrench. Any desired number of strokes may 'be employed to. loosen the valve assembly, it being usually necessary to only rotate the valve seat a relativelysmall amount to free it from the housing. After the valve seat has been loosened, the bolts 13 are removed and the base plate 19 taken out of operative position. The pivot 37 is removed toopen the wrench for-this purpose.

Thedevice can be used in a reverse direction if the cylinder. 44 isuof the. double acting type. In .such an event the wrench isinverted from. the position shown so that the lever '35 will tightenthe wrench portions when Usually, however,= it; issnot .necessary to ...'ernploy..the. hydraulic cylinder for tightening the valve assembly as it can he usually tightened with ordinaryvtools.

In accordance with the patent statutes, I have described the principles of construction and operation of my hydraulic disassembly wrench, and while I have endeavored to set forth the best embodiment thereof, I desire to have it understood that obvious changes may be made within the scope of the following claims without departing from the spirit of my invention.

I claim:

1. A portable hydraulic hydrant disassembly wrench assembly for attachment to a hydrant and use in rotating an attachment to an inner valve member with respect to an outer enclosing member, the wrench assembly including in combination a base plate attachable to a hydrant, a plurality of attachment means for securing the base plate to different sized outer enclosing members to extend and hold the base outwardly therefrom as a support, a grip wrench arranged to encircle said attachment to the inner valve member and rotate the same upon rotation of the wrench, and an expandable and contractable hydraulic cylinder connected to said base plate and to said wrench to rotate the wrench upon expansion or contraction of said cylinder.

2. The structure described in claim 1 and including parallel pivots connecting the ends of said cylinder to said wrench and in spaced relation to said base plate respectively.

3. The structure described in claim 1 and in which the base plate is slotted to accommodate the inner member and provided with apertures for bolting to the outer enclosing member.

4. The structure defined in claim 1 and in which the base plate extends substantially radially from the inner member and the outer member.

5. A hydraulic disassembly wrench assembly for use in disassembling a hydrant valve assembly within a hydrant casing, the wrench including in combination a base plate platform having an end designed for attachment to a hydrant casing for supporting said wrench assembly, said end having an opening therein for accommodation of a rotatable sleeve, adjustable sized attaching means holding said base plate extending laterally from the hydrant casing top, a wrench engageable with a rotatable sleeve connected to said valve within said casing, a fluid cylinder having a plunger in telescoping relation thereto secured to said base plate and supported thereby, means for supplying fluid under pressure to move said plunger, said cylinder and plunger forming an expandable and contractable member, means connecting one end of said member to said base plate laterally of said casing, and means connecting the other end of said member to said wrench, whereby movement of said member oscillates said wrench.

6. The structure described in claim 5 and including parallelpivots forming the means connecting said member to said base plate and to said wrench.

7. The structure described in claim 5 and in which the end of said base plate designed for attachment with a hydrant body includes about an open mounting slot and aperture a series of angularly spaced apertures through which said holding means may extend.

8. The structure described in claim 5 and including resilient means urging said wrench in one rotative direction.

9. The structure described in claim 5 and including resilient means connecting said wrench and said base plate and urging said wrench in one rotative direction.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,836,184 Nixon Dec. 15, 1931 1,996,345 Mueller Apr. 2, 1935 2,022,197 Hampton Nov. 26, 1935 2,172,272 Booth Sept. 5, 1939 2,311,225 Grable Feb. 16, 1943 2,495,475 Phillips Jan. 24, 1950 2,497,789 Mueller Feb. 14, 1950 2,550,045 De Hetre Apr. 24, 1951 2,638,026 Sweeney et al May 12, 1953 

